Numbers get bandied about a lot, but Apple puts it in perspective: The company previously sold 3 million third-generation iPads when that device launched in March—however, since the LTE-enabled versions of the iPad mini and fourth-generation iPad did not launch on Friday, Apple’s taken the unusual step of breaking down past iPad sales. According to the company, it moved 1.5 million of the Wi-Fi-only third-generation models back in March, which means this past weekend’s sales doubled that milestone.

It also reveals that the devices sold over the third-generation iPad’s opening weekend were split down the middle in terms of Wi-Fi-only versus cellular-enabled; if that division among customers holds, then Apple can expect to sell an equally hefty number of cellular-enabled models later this month.

The company doesn’t break down exactly how many minis and fourth-generation models it sold this past weekend, but it’s clear that the new, smaller iPad is in high demand. In the company’s press release, Apple CEO Tim Cook says that the company “practically sold out of iPad minis” and is trying to manufacture more to keep up with demand. Apple also noted that excessive demand for the minis has bumped some pre-order deliveries to later in the month, though many have already been shipped out.

The LTE-enabled versions of the fourth-generation iPad and iPad mini will go on sale later this month, and the new models will also expand to more countries before the end of the year.

This story, "Apple sells 3 million fourth-generation iPads, minis" was originally published by
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Dan has been writing about all things Apple since 2006, when he first started contributing to the MacUser blog. Since then he's covered most of the company's major product releases and reviewed every major revision of iOS. In his "copious" free time, he's usually grinding away on a novel or two.